Retiring Republican Representative Don Bacon stated Sunday that major losses for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections should trigger a necessary internal party debate regarding the future of the MAGA movement. "I do think there will be a debate in the party, and I think we need it," Bacon said during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union."
Host Jake Tapper had questioned whether substantial Republican losses in the House or Senate could signal "the beginning of the end" for the MAGA political movement. Bacon, a retired Air Force general representing a swing district in Nebraska since 2017, pointed to former President Donald Trump's tariff policies as a significant drawback for the movement, particularly in Midwestern areas.
Bacon described Trump as "underwater quite a bit" in purple regions of the Midwest, attributing this sentiment in part to tariffs, which he characterized as "a tax on consumers." He advocated for a return to the free-trade principles of past Republican eras, citing Milton Friedman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan. Bacon has been a vocal critic of Trump's tariffs, and he was among six House Republicans who voted in February to repeal the president's tariffs on Canada. Shortly after that vote, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump had exceeded his executive authority in imposing broad tariffs.
Bacon, a five-term congressman, announced in June that he would not seek reelection. His seat is currently favored to be flipped by Democrat Denise Powell. Bacon has been mentioned as a potential contender for a 2028 presidential run. When asked about his presidential aspirations on Sunday, Bacon demurred, stating he did not want the focus to be on him and noting the rarity of House members making a direct jump to the presidency, referencing James Garfield. Tapper pressed the issue, interpreting Bacon's response as neither a confirmation nor a denial.
In September, Bacon had expressed a desire to run for president on the "Our Republican Legacy" podcast, saying he "would love to."